If the dynamic energy from the fall is converted to impact work - equation 2 and 4 can be combined to

1/2 Fmax s = m ag h (5)

The impact force can be expressed as

Fmax = 2 m ag h / s (5b)

The deformation slow-down distance can be expressed as

s = 2 m ag h / F (5c)

Example - a Falling Car

The same car as above falls from height 14.2 m and crashes with the front down on a massive concrete tarmac. The front impacts 0.5 m (slow down distance) as above. The impact force can be calculated as

Example - a Person falling from a Table

A person with weight (gravitational force) of 200 lbs (lbf) falls from a 4 feet high table.

The energy of the falling body when it hits the ground can be calculated using (4) as

E = (200 lbf) (4 ft)

= 800 ft lb

The impact on a human body can be difficult to determine since it depends on how the body hits the ground - which part of the body, the angle of the body and/or if hands are used to protect the body and so on.

For this example we use an impact distance of 3/4 inch (0.0625 ft) to calculate the impact force:

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